Kite string rider



Jan. 11, 1938. PLANE A ZREEJZS KITE STRING RIDER File'd Aug. 25, 1966 I N VEN T0 R. Joy/v I PLAWL'.

A TTO HNEX Patented .Ian. 11, 1938 PATENT OFFICE KITE' STRING RIDER J ohn F..Plane, Long Beach, Calif. Application August 193-6, Serial No. 97,784

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a kite string rider adapted to travel up and down a long string, such as a kite string, the body being made in various shapes, preferably, in the shape of an aeroplane or dirigible, substantially as shown in the annexed drawing.

An object of my invention is to provide a 'novel kite string rider. which will be moved upwardly on a string by the force of the wind and when reaching'the predetermined point, a trip will be actuated, thereby permitting the-body of the rider to reverse itself whereupon the rider will slide down the string under the force of gravity.

My kite string rider simulates an aeroplane, both when moving up or down the string, and the body of the plane is improper position depending uponthe direction of travel'of the rider.

Another'object is to provide a" novel means of mounting the rider on the kite string, said mounting means being easily and quickly operated, and the kite string rider being so constructed: that the kite string will" not-become-entangled in; the'pulleys as the rider is moved -alongthe: string. Still anotherbbiect to provide atrrovelspring:

- means for turning the body of. the rider when a predetermined point has been reached on th kite string. r

-rider is moved upwardly on the string by the force of the wind but is permitted to slide down the string when the body is tripped by engaging a stop on the string.

Other objects, advantages, and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawing, the subjoined detailed description, and the appended claims.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation of my rider in position on the string.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Figure-4 is a bottom plan view of the removable cap.

Figure 5' is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view of the body of the rider and the pivotally mounted plate showing the actuating spring.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 3. r r a r Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I indicates the body of the kite string rider which is here shown, as simulating the body of an aeroplane.

Transversely extending wings 2 are attached to the body I and these wings are inclined rela-' tive to the body I at such an angle that a wind from the rear of the body will push the same along the kite string 3, or the like. In order that the wings 2 may be as highas possible on the body- I; I may cut out the top edge of'the wings, as shown at 4, which permits rotation of the body I and the attached wings, as will be further described.

'end of this spring is attached to the pin while the other end is attached to the frame I. The spring 8 is under tension, constantly tending, to. impart relative rotation between the body I and the plate 5. s

When the rider is moving either up or down the string 3, it is desirable that the nose of the 7 plane shall face in the direction of movement of the. rider- Consequently, when a predetermined. point has" been reached on the string,,at

which. point the rider is returned to the lower '7 the stop II on the string 3.

An upstanding lug I2 on the pin 9 is provided with an anti-friction roller, and this lug extends into one of the notches I3 or I4 formed in the plate 5. The notch I4 is somewhat elongated .so that the pin 9 can be slid forwardly, thus carrying the lug I2 into the elongated notch thereby holding the plate 5 in what may be termed cocked position, i. e., the spring 8 is under tension tending to rotate the body I. When the head I0 strikes the stop II, the pin 9 is pushed inwardly, the lug I2 moves into the open space of the notch I 4 and the spring 8 thereupon rotates the body I thru I degrees. 7 The lug I2 enters the notch I3, thus stopping the body I in proper alignment with the plate 5. The notches I 3, I4 are open to one side of the plate 5 but these notches do not extend entirely thru the plate. Thus, these notches serve as stops to prevent excessive rotation of the body I, and the one notch acts as a latch, as previously described.

In order that the string 3 may be easily threaded on the rider, I provide a cap l5 which is detachably secured to the plate 5. The cap and the plate are preferably secured together by a tongue and groove construction l6, as shown in Fig. 5. A pair of rollers I1--I'I are journaled in the cap and the string 3 travels under these rollers. The string is properly guided under the rollers by notches IB, I9 on each end respectively, of the cap l5. These notches are aligned with the roller [1 and thus the string is held in proper alignment and cannot disengage the rollers.

To mount the rider on the string, the cap I5 is slid longitudinally of the plate 5 until the tongue and groove l6 disengages. Thereafter, the cap is placed over the string and the plate 5 again is slid onto the cap thereby assembling the rider on the string.

At times it may be necessary to counterbalance the body I and for this purpose I provide bores 20 in the body I in which weights are placed for the purpose of stabilizing the body and causing it to move properly up and down the string 3. The amount of weight added to the body depends upon the force of the wind.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A kite string rider comprising a body, means attached to the body and slidably mounting said body on the string, said body being rotatably mounted on said means, trip means on the body, and means operable when released by the trip means whereby said body is rotated and reversed in position relative to the kite string.

2. A kite string rider comprising a body, means attached to the body and slidably mounting said body on the string, said body being rotatably mounted on said means, trips means on the body, and spring means engaging the body and operable when released by the trip means whereby said body is reversed in position relative to the kite string.

3. A kite string rider comprising a body, wings aflixed to the body, a plate pivotally mounted on the body, spring means engaging the plate and body urging the relative rotation of the plate andv body, trip means engaging the plate to releasably hold said plate against rotation, and means slidably mounting the body on the kite string.

4. A kite string rider comprising a body, wings afiixed to the body, a plate pivotally mounted on the body, spring means engaging the plate and body urging the relative rotation of the plate and body, trip means engaging the plate to releasably hold said plate against rotation, means slidably mounting the body on the kite string, said mounting means comprising a cap, rollers in the cap, said rollers engaging the kite string and means detachably securing the cap to the plate.

5. A kite string rider comprising a body, wings secured to the body, a plate pivotally mounted on the body, spring means between the plate and the body whereby a relative rotation of the plate and body is urged, trip means engaging the plate, a cap slidably attached to the plate, and rollers in the cap, said rollers engaging the kite string.

6. A kite string rider comprising a body, wings secured to the body a plate pivotally mounted on the body, spring means between the plate and the body whereby a relative rotation of the plate and body is urged, trip means engaging the plate, a cap slidably attached to the plate, rollers in the cap, said rollers engaging the kite string, said cap having narrow notches in each end thereof, said notches being aligned with the rollers.

'7 A kite string rider comprising a body, wings afiixed to the body, a plate pivotally mounted on the body, spring means engaging the plate and body urging the relative rotation of the plate and body, trip means engaging the plate to releasably hold said plate against rotation, means slidably mounting the body on the kite string, and an elongated notch cut in the top edge of the wings, and said body having a bore therein adapted to receive a counterweight.

8. A kite string rider comprising a body, wings aifixed to the body, a plate pivotally mounted on the body, spring means engaging the plate and body urging the relative rotation of the plate and body, trip means engaging the plate to releasably hold said plate against rotation, means slidably mounting the body on the kite string and said body having a bore therein adapted to receive a counter-weight.

JOHN F. PLANE. 

